Full-sized headphones with a slim profile

[Taz777]

Are there any high quality over-ear, full-size, easy to drive headphones that don't look huge and cumbersome when worn? It's more from an angle of being out and about when walking around, so something that looks a bit more discreet on the head but still delivers very good sound quality is the kind of headphone I'm seeking.

I did look at the Meze 99 Classics and these do look good and impedance is 32-Ohms so can be driven with mobile devices or DAPs, but these still seem quite large due to the way the headband frame hovers over the head. Another one is the Sennheiser HD660S which has fairly slim earcups, but the impedance is a bit high for driving these with a phone or DAP.

 

[gimmeheadroom]

Maybe it's just me but when I see people wearing headphones outside, discreet is the last thing that comes to mind.

The 660S is designed to be run off a portable device. The impedance is moderate but the sensitivity is high. I haven't heard them but on paper it would not seem to be a problem. Many people claim to be happy running even HD 600/650/6XX and 800/800S off DAPs. I'm not one of them but the 660S should be fine.

 

[HipHopScribe]

Audeze LCD-1s might fit the bill

 

[Mhog55]

660s doesn't sound great from a phone. My V40 doesn't seem to drive it to its full potential. Lots of options out there. The Audio Technica Ath-Msr7b and B&O H6 are a few that come to mind.

 

[Mightygrey]

I find that Jecklin Floats are quite aerodynamic and sleek when worn outside.

 

[Taz777]

I find that Jecklin Floats are quite aerodynamic and sleek when worn outside.

Ha ha! I wish I hadn't Googled 'Jecklin Floats' now.

 

[seamon]

I was looking for a similar thing a while back and settled for Abyss Diana V2

 

[ProtegeManiac]

Another one is the Sennheiser HD660S which has fairly slim earcups, but the impedance is a bit high for driving these with a phone or DAP.

I'd be more worried about the fact that in PC case terms the HD660 and some others are more like a Phanteks P400A or Fractal Design Meshify C when what you need for this application is something more like a Bitfenix Enso. And keeping them compact and closed is kind of antithetical because in PC case terms this is like why the Bitfenix Enso is a bad idea while the Fractal Design Define series has a front panel that juts out that far from the chassis to create a gap for air to pass through, ie, open headphones don't really need to keep a fine, stiff mesh far from the driver but that's not always the case for when you seal up that ventilation.

If you really need something discrete, there's nothing more discrete than IEMs.

Otherwise, maybe look into the Audio Technica MSR-7 or AKG K553.

 

[KPzypher]

Are there any high quality over-ear, full-size, easy to drive headphones that don't look huge and cumbersome when worn? It's more from an angle of being out and about when walking around, so something that looks a bit more discreet on the head but still delivers very good sound quality is the kind of headphone I'm seeking.

I did look at the Meze 99 Classics and these do look good and impedance is 32-Ohms so can be driven with mobile devices or DAPs, but these still seem quite large due to the way the headband frame hovers over the head. Another one is the Sennheiser HD660S which has fairly slim earcups, but the impedance is a bit high for driving these with a phone or DAP.

DCA Aeon 2 may fit the bill? It's relatively lightweight, compact, comes in both open and closed back version, and folds in nicely for easy transportation. The only downside may be the red color scheme which may not be the most discreet in public?

And although it has low impedance, it's quite low in sensitivity too, so may not be ideal to drive from certain devices.